Wish I Could Have Known You

For a great man

I didn't know him. I wish I had. We have some of the same ideas. To compare me to him though, I will not and could not. He was a minister, an activist, a leader, writer, a friend, father, husband, son and a brother. Not just to the people of his color, but to all people. Not many wanted to hear what he had to say.
 

He was born in Atlanta, Georgia.The same Atlanta, Georgia that Gen. Sherman burned to the ground during one of the most troubled times in this country we call America. The Civil War.. odd name to me, calling it ' civil '.What was civil about it?

What was civil about a race of people being captured and against their will, taken by force from their beautiful homeland of Africa, brought here and treated like animals in most cases. Finally, some people decided slavery was not a good idea. Selling human beings, tearing families apart, not a good idea. Thus, a war was fought and the North won. The slaves were 'freed'..
 

Many years later a man was born who grew to be a great man with great ideas. This man was Martin Luther King Jr. Though he was born on January 15, his birthday is celebrated on this day. Like many great men and women with great ideas for the good of all, he was assassinated before he saw his dream fulfilled. A funny looking little man, James Earl Ray, much like the funny looking little man, Lee Harvey Oswald, who shot John Fitzgerald Kennedy put an end to Dr. King's life and dreams.
 

Today I wonder how far his dream has come. Things are better, but are they/we equal? I cannot speak for my black brothers and sisters. They know better than I. In my eyes, racism is still alive and well here in the South and all across the U.S. and the world. Genocide is still alive and well. War, still alive and well.
 

Abraham, Martin and John, dead and gone. The dream lives on..it has to. It is our responsibility to do what we can to fulfill the dreams of these three men and so many others who gave their lives to make the world a a better place.
 

Happy Birthday Dr. King. You are not forgotten. Nor is your dream. I also hope someday all God's children, black and white, Jews, Gentiles,Catholics, Muslims, ALL can come together on a red hilltop in Georgia, join hands and sing the old Negro spiritual:

" Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last."
 

I wish I could have known you.

Your dream lives on.

Author's Note

Wrote this for MLK's birthday ..and because he was a man of peace . I wish i could have known him.
Schools are closed and many businesses but the school closing does not say it is closed for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday but 'staff day'.. not too cool

Reviews

[Rain]

You missed out hearing the words of a courageous man. although there is enough film footage that he will never be forgotten. This was a beautiful and honest tribute to a rare man, a man who knew he was going to die. I grew up seeing signs "Negro's Bathroom." I grew up when racism was truely dangerous. It was much more than slow service, or profiling. Martin tried with all his heart to bring us together by peaceful means. He not only had whites to fear, he also had his own race to fear. As far as dignity and courage, I don't think there's a better model than he was. In those days, even the thought of a black fireman would have been a miracle. We always can do better, and I think your piece is a supreme compliment to a deserving warrior. I use the word "warrior" in the truest sense. I wonder what he would think of our world today ? I wonder what he would think of your beautiful tribute ? Great write. Rain..

[Bubo]

A fine tribute to a fine man...........where many of his dreams have been realised, but so much more needs doing.
He is certainly not forgotton.........a once in a life time man of history and principles of real belief, all that I so agree with..............a man with such pride and wisdom.
Beautifully written, and a great reminder on a special day of what we lost.

[Blackbirdsong]

What a wonderfully written and heartfelt tribute to him Chloe! I tell ya, you just keep getting better and better. No typos! Beyond that though this was really, really good. You express yourself and your feelings so well in this write and no the dream hasn't died...some things have improved. There is no Jim Crow laws anymore where Blacks are segregated and not allowed the same basic rights as others, but you're right racisim is still very much out there.

By the way, I'm not featuring that poem anymore. Maybe I should again, but I felt especially on this day that it was okay to finally be done with what happened here and move on a little. The poem will be stlil on site for anyone who wants to read it, but I said what I had to say a lot of people read and reviewed and for that I'm thankful.

Here's the link for any who want to read it since Chloe mentioned it in her Author's Notes -

KKK at Writer's Caf�A Poem by Blackbirdsong

Great work on this Chloe.

*HUGS*

[Carole]

What a man, and so much respect goes out to this man of great worth and what he did to bring equal rights to the black community. I watched an awesome special on him night before last and it was a wonderful commemoration of his life and legacy. Enjoyed your tribute to him. Very well written and expressed, Chloe!

[Robert Luna]

"Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence, but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Dr King is one of my role models. I try with every fiber of my being to be a better person and spread love and joy. I try to change the world as much as I can. Your words once again speak a truth that all should hear and listen to. This a wonderful tribute to a great man, person, Being.

Great Job!!!!!

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

Call it a blog or just plan truth but dream is alive within me and you as we struggle each day to find the right words. If enough voices join in it will ring out loud and Proud Dr king your dream is still alive and well.
We will keep it that way, and continue the struggle to see it through. Great job Chloe.
Hugs Debby

[PoemRodent]

Very well voiced and penned and yet the world shares so much to protect the other types of thinking that no one can ever unite in a single phrase. He was a great inspiration yet so many hide the meaning, its sadening. Great write!

Love and Thoughts,

Dostani

[BrightEyes]

a wonderful tribute to Dr. King...while I hear snippets of his speeches on the television...I've yet to find one speech completely televised...which I would love to see. A truly great man ahead of his time...we've come a long way from those days I believe, but the journey is not yet completed. We still have far to travel...great write.

laura

[Jenny Davis]

This is wonderful, Chloe! I share your sentiments and wish that the world could be a better place where ALL are treated equally as I think we still need work in that department....It is a shame that we don't have anyone nowadays like Dr. King...but with messages like yours, his message still lives! Nicely said, hun :)

[IdiosyncraticPlastic]

Great! These are heart felt, educated thoughts of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Methods of attaining peace among all peoples unfortunately don't get all the acclaim deserved in history books or even society itself. Why?
He had "a dream" we sadly still aspire for today... over three decades later.

Sweet and sincere piece ♥